I love the fact that there's so many comedy critics bemoaning the fact that Scottish comedy is "outdated" and scandalously unfunny. Hmmm, interesting that they're all from places that has produced far worse (After all, England has the dire 'All about me' and 'My Hero' amongst other hideous offerings, whilst the good old USA has given us such tripe as 'Will and Grace'.)
As far as Chewin' the Fat goes, its decent, solid comedy that more often or not hits the spot straight on. OK, it may not pack the mirth ratio of the Fast Show, but when it stumbles it doesn't do so as pathetically ("Hi! I'm Ed Winchester." anybody?). I think the problem is that, unless you've actually spent any time in Scotland and realised that's exactly what its like, you just won't get it. You're not clued into the language, slang or the general ambiance of the country, so you've got nothing to base the series on and just slag it for being what you perceive to be "unfunny". I hate to tell you, but theres more than a million Scots that would probably disagree and hail both Chewin the Fat and Still Game as the best comedy shows to come out of the country since Naked Video. And why? Because believe it or not, both are actually very, very funny if you know what you're meant to be laughing at. (perhaps its a little unfair, but the Scots don't tend to make it very easy for outsiders to get in on the joke. Maybe its all those years of wearing woad on their faces and yelling "Freedom!", eh?)
Rab C Nesbitt was similarly criticised when it made the trasition to mainsteam UK screens - primarily because southernised Englanders couldn't understand the Glaswegian dialect and missed the humour. And to suggest that Scotland hasn't had any decent comedians to come out of it....Billy Connolly anyone? Ronnie Corbett? Phil Kay, Fred McCauley or Rhona Cameron? This little country isn't quite as stagnant as you think - you just need to open your eyes a little and try to understand the humour a little better.
